BAY CITY — A West Branch man accused of threatening former U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak has accepted a plea offer in federal court, rather than take his case to trial.

Russell J. Hesch, 74, appeared before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington in Bay City this morning and pleaded guilty to one count of sending threatening communications through the mail to a U.S. official threatening bodily harm or murder. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss two more counts of the same charge and a count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.

“In the event he loses his government benefits as a result of his conviction or sentencing, he can withdraw his plea,” said one of Hesch’s attorneys, Robert J. Dunn. “He has benefits from a long service in the military.”

Ludington is to sentence Hesch at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 15. Hesch’s sentencing guidelines range from six to 12 months, Dunn said.

Prosecutors alleged Hesch in May sent a letter to Stupak, threatening to paint the Mackinac Bridge with his and his family’s blood. Stupak’s support of federal health care reportedly inspired the threat.

“It’s a very strange case,” Dunn said. “They got an admission out of him through high pressure early on, before he was represented by counsel. Other evidence in the case didn’t support that he sent that letter.”

Dunn said the letter appeared to differ from when Hesch mailed it, indicating someone tampered with it.

“He indicated he intended to create fear but never intended to actually go up there and form any physical harm,” Dunn said of his client. “He wanted to take responsibility and step forward and plead and he did.”

Investigators maintained Hesch’s son, David Hesch of Loveland, Colo., helped his father deliver the letter. As part of the senior Hesch’s plea, prosecutors are no longer pursuing charges against David Hesch, Dunn said.

Hesch’s trial was slated to begin Sept. 13.

Before retiring in January, Stupak represented northern Bay County, northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.